TRANSCRIPT OF THE ABOVE VIDEO: How to Compliment People Naturally and Confidently - English Speaking Skills Lesson

Hi everyone, its Nicole again, and I'm just checking in to answer another question.

Um, a student recently asked me ‘How can I compliment someone and for them to take it as a genuine compliment, not as something sarcastic or creepy?’

So, that's actually a really good question because a lot of the time, if English is our second language, if we're complimenting someone, the words we use and what we say might not necessarily match the sound of our voice, so, therefore, people might misinterpret what you're saying or what you're wanting to say, and might think that you're a little strange or odd. We don't want that. We want to be genuine and happy, and for people to take your compliment.

So, yeah, look, a compliment, you might say something like ‘I love your jumper. Where did you get it?’ or ‘I love your shoes, they're so nice’. or ‘I absolutely love your new phone cover. Can you tell me where you got it?’ So, can you see there, I love, I absolutely love, and I was using my voice, I was sort of going up and down a little bit and showing some expression in my voice.

I might also say ‘Wow that colour really suits you!’ or ‘I love your T-shirt, it really suits you’ or ‘Did you get a haircut? It really suits you!’

So, that's a lovely way to compliment someone as well, or you could say something like ‘That necklace looks so good. I want one too!’ or ‘Wow, that handbag looks so good. I love it. I want one too. Where did you get it?’ or, what else could I say, ‘Your new jeans look so good. I love the design here on the side and the colour’s great too’ You might say something like ‘Wow, I love your camera. I want one too. Where did you get it? Is it new?’

So, yeah, you might also say something like ‘Did you get your hair cut? It looks different. It looks really really nice. It's actually fantastic. It suits you so well.’ you might say something like ‘Have you changed your hair? Is it a different colour? It looks really really nice. That colour really suits you. Where did you go and get it done?’ or you might say something like ‘Wow, I love your car. Is it new? I've never seen you drive this one before.’ or ‘I love your phone. That's a really interesting cover. Where did you get it?’

So, can you see that instead of just complimenting someone and saying I love blah blah blah or blah blah blah is nice, you're adding some extra information on there, you're saying something more about it, so, your compliment is genuine because you're complimenting again and again and again, you're not just saying one compliment, you’re extending that compliment and saying a little bit more about it.

So, look, I love your enthusiasm. I love that you're here watching this video and learning some English. There's your compliment for the day!

Anyway, thanks for listening. If you have any questions, just type them into the comments section down here, I'll be more than happy to answer them and to help you further, and to record some more videos, if that's what you'd like me to do. Thank you so much, and come back again soon for another learning video. Bye!